Legislative Update

The following are summaries of final action by legislatures on
state education budgets and other education-related
matters.

IDAHO

Governor:
Phil Batt (R)

FY 1998 state budget:
$1.4 billion

FY 1998 K-12 budget:
$705 million

FY 1997 K-12 budget:
$689 million

Percent change K-12 budget:
+2.3 percent

Estimated enrollment:
245,000

Highlights:

Legislature has earmarked $10.4 million for improving school
technology, including a one-time expenditure of $7 million.

Under umbrella designation "Building Student Successes," budget
also includes $2.25 million for limited-English-proficiency programs;
$500,000 for testing; and $1 million for reading improvement, half
for phonics training for teachers and half for Reading Recovery.

State will continue to spend $4.75 million in tobacco-tax
revenues on substance-abuse education ($7 million) and the department
of juvenile corrections.

MARYLAND

Governor:
Parris N. Glendening (D)

FY 1998 state budget:
$7.79 billion

FY 1998 K-12 budget:
$2.62 billion

FY 1997 K-12 budget:
$2.47 billion

Percent change K-12 budget:
+6.0 percent

Estimated enrollment:
767,903

Highlights:

Despite approval of a 10 percent income-tax cut that will result
in a $38 million revenue loss in fiscal 1998, the budget includes an
$87 million increase in the K-12 funding formula to cover increased
school enrollment, teacher salaries, textbook purchases, and school
operating costs.

Budget also includes $23 million in funds for school construction
and repairs to aging schools.

Under new legislation, Baltimore school district won $30 million
in first installment of a five-year, $254 million deal to bolster
school performance. Measure also gives state a bigger say in district
governance. Under deal, mayor and governor will appoint new school
board.

Budget also adds more than $20 million for early-childhood,
teacher-mentoring, gifted-and-talented, and magnet programs.

WYOMING

Governor:
Jim Geringer (R)

FY 1997-98 state budget:
$3.44 billion

FY 1997-98 K-12 budget:
$124.1 million

FY 1995-96 K-12 budget:
$127.7 million

Percent change K-12 budget:
-0.28 percent

Estimated enrollment:
100,300

Highlights:

Legislature approved $10 million special allocation, included in
K-12 budget, for school district operations.

Lawmakers plan to convene in special session in May to review new
school finance system. New system was created after state's highest
court ordered old system overhauled in 1995.